Backyard Sledding

Sledding doesn't always have to be down a hill. Nor does it have to be in a lot of snow. Sometimes the very best thing is to go outside with your kids anyway. Backyard sledding is perfect for babies and small toddlers (and lazy parents). Luisa and I are sick, so instead of finding a good sledding hill this afternoon, Juan and I pulled her around the backyard in a sled.

As you can tell from the pictures, she tolerated it. She probably would have loved it if she weren't sick. At least she didn't protest, and the rest of us had fun, dogs included.

Did anyone else play in the snow this afternoon? Our yard seemed like more dirt than snow after the dogs ran around a few times. It seems like we'll never get another good snowfall this winter, and we were tired of waiting.

P.S. Happy Paczki Day! My friend Pooja brought me my first ever paczki, a delicious one from Crust, purchased at Argus Farm Stop. It lasted about a minute and a half.

On-the-Go Toy Kit

Our next door neighbor and Luisa's best friend recently celebrated his second birthday. It was so nice to hang out with friends, eat good food, and watch the little ones play. This will sound funny to you Michiganders, but I'd never been to a basement party before and I thought it was brilliant. Most houses don't have basements where I'm from in North Carolina! The party vibes were so nice and casual, and it was easy to keep the kids contained in one room in the basement. Juan and I dream about a finished room in our basement one day.

My friend Caroline had a genius idea: Every child left the party with a goodie bag filled with perfect on-the-go toys. Think tiny containers of Play Doh, a small Slinky, miniature bubble wands, tiny balls and plastic animals... Caroline told me that the toys are perfect to keep in a lunchbox to take with you on a trip or even just to a restaurant. That way your child has a kit ready with special toys that they don't see every day to entertain themselves. I love the idea, and can't wait to try it out tomorrow at dinner with my in-laws. :)

For every day, I keep a small set of Tegu blocks in my purse for Luisa. It's just the right size and has saved the day a few times already. She loves it, and it also makes a great birthday gift. If you'd like, join my Facebook group - I always post when Tegu pocket pouches go on sale.

(Photo from Luisa's first birthday party)

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BST to Save Money

The best way to afford the adorable, high-end children's clothes you love is to BST (buy, sell, trade). You can save money by buying used clothes from other parents, or by buying the clothes you want new and then selling when your children have outgrown them.

BST groups abound on Facebook and can be location-specific (like Ann Arbor High-End Kids Clothes BST) or brand-specific (Hanna Andersson, Tea Collection, Mini Boden, Matilda Jane, Janie and Jack, and many more). BST can seem like a hassle at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy and addictive. 

To keep the resale value of your kids' clothes high, it's important to keep them nice. In our house, Luisa has to earn the privilege of wearing clothes during meals. I find it way less of a hassle to undress her before meals than to treat laundry stains. If you do have to treat stains from playing outside or eating, Resolve Max Power gel will save the day. Wash the clothes inside out in cold water and consider hanging to dry. 

Once you're ready to post the clothes for sale, be sure to read the BST group's rules (usually in the pinned post of the Facebook group). This will make it easier for you and ensure that your post won't get deleted because you inadvertently didn't follow the rules. Iron the clothes just a little, if needed, and take good pictures with your phone (or DSLR, if you're feeling ambitious). Honestly describe the condition of the clothing and price it fairly. Remember, you'll make more money by selling for a fair price than you will by pricing it so high that no one wants to buy it. 

Here's an example listing that I recently sold on a Tea Collection BST group: "VGUC 3-6 months romper from Morocco. No signs of wash wear or fading; would say EUC, but VGUC to be safe. $15 shipped." You can describe clothing as NWT (new with tags), NWOT (new without tags), EUC (excellent used condition, practically new), VGUC (very good used condition, possible slight wash wear), GUC (good used condition, more wash wear and fading), or play condition (stains, small holes, or other damage). It's better to underestimate the condition of the clothing than to risk overstating its condition. 

Once someone has decided to buy your clothes, send them an invoice via PayPal. After they've paid, weigh the clothing and packaging together with a kitchen scale. You can enter the weight of the package and print a shipping label on PayPal, tape it to the poly mailer, and leave it in your mailbox with the flag up. (Poly mailers are the cheapest packaging for just 1-3 items of clothing; more than that, your best bet is a USPS Priority Flat Rate padded envelope.) So easy - you don't even have to go to the post office!

On local BST groups, on the other hand, you'll usually meet with a buyer in a public parking lot or just leave the clothing in a bag on your porch with a jar for cash (ppu, or porch pick up).

Have you tried BST? What are your favorite kids' clothing brands? I'd love to hear!

P.S. Buying clothes in advance and stashing is another great way to save money on adorable kids' clothes, if you buy during end-of-season sales. (What you wanted to buy may be sold out by then, though.) If you buy clothes on sale and resell later, you can really save money!

(Top photo by me of Luisa in our all-time favorite outfit: the Tea Collection Matisse dress from Morocco, spring/summer 2014.)

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Juan's Top Board Game Picks

I recently wrote about my favorite board games for game night, but it's Juan, my husband, who's really into board games. He loves to look up recent winners of Germany's Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) contest, read reviews, and pick a new board game for us to play. Here are his favorite games, which unlike mine, may require a certain degree of sobriety.

Settlers of Catan, the classic, allows for three to four players. You'll need the extension if you have five or six players. Rocks for sheep, anyone? Ask any gamer: This is the ultimate strategy and resources game. If you're a fellow Trekkie, we think this version is pretty fantastic.

Pandemic is so much fun for up to four players. Instead of playing against one another, you all work together as a team to eradicate viral epidemics across the globe. Each player has a different role card, which gives them a special power to problem-solve and help eradicate disease. Juan is in medical school, so this is our go-to when we have his classmates over.

Seven Wonders is really flexible: three to seven players can play, and the game only lasts about 30 minutes once you've learned the rules. The first round is easy, but stay on your toes - it requires a lot of strategizing and it takes a few games to get the hang of it. I love the theme of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the game art, especially the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. :)

What are your favorite strategy games? We'd love recommendations!

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Best Indoor Activities for the Winter

Cold, gray winter days have finally arrived. After you've played in the snow, cabin fever can set in quickly. Here are some great ideas to entertain your toddlers indoors without everyone going nuts.

Cut up straws into one-inch-long pieces and let your kids string yarn through them (tip: wrap a little tape around the ends of the yarn). This is great for developing your children's fine motor skills, which will help with writing in a few years. Alternately, a set of lacing beads is a great toy to have on hand.

Punch holes in the lid of an old Pringles container and let your kids guide pipe cleaners through the holes. This is another good activity for their fine motor skills.

Road tape! Just think, this is two activities in one: Laying out the road, then playing with their toy cars.

Show your kids pictures of themselves. Seriously, they love it. After all, they are the center of their universe. :)

Luisa can play with this Hape marble run for what seems like forever. Hape Quadrilla marble railways are a great option for bigger kids.

Skype with the grandparents! This always cheers up my toddler in the whiny hours of the late afternoon. I wait to Skype until Luisa asks me to read the same book for the billionth time and I just can't anymore. ;)

Haba Sticky Bricks are a great set of first blocks. Toddlers love them and there aren't too many pieces to lose. Luisa, my husband, and I all love these blocks.

Dip Caran d'Ache water-soluble pastels in water and let your kids draw on themselves. It wipes right off for easy clean-up.

Make hot chocolate! Kids love traditions, and sipping hot chocolate together makes for such sweet memories of these cold, cozy winter days. My mom recently sent me Silly Cow Farms hot chocolate mix, which makes a great gift for anyone this winter.

And if all else fails and your living room is big enough, this inflatable bouncer is a slam dunk win. Think of it as an investment in your sanity.

What are your go-to indoor activities this winter? I'd love to hear!

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Guide to Maternity Clothes

When I was newly pregnant, I felt totally lost when it came to maternity clothing. It was so overwhelming, especially with my changing body image! You know how you think everyone else's baby belly is cute? You probably won't think yours is cute at all (but it will be, trust me). I hated my belly in all but two outfits at a time. In fact, I have fewer than five full-length photos of me pregnant. What flattered my 30-week belly somehow made me look frumpy at 32 weeks.

It's also rare to try on maternity clothing before you buy, so you are truly taking a shot in the dark. A lot of stores only offer maternity clothing online, or have limited in-store selection; other maternity clothing boutiques only exist online. Sizing also stressed me out way more than it should have. Every brand advises to order your prepregnancy size, which of course differs brand to brand, so how are you supposed to know your size in a brand that doesn't sell non-maternity clothing?

A word about cost. I thought about it way too much, because clearly I am obsessed with finding deals on the best things, and you won't wear maternity clothing forever (hopefully ;). I realized that if I have more than one child, I'd have to wear maternity clothing for quite a while. I decided to invest in some nice, not-too-trendy clothing that I'd love to wear for more than one pregnancy.

Since it's so hard to navigate and to find maternity fashion advice, I'd love to share my maternity fashion finds...

Seraphine is like Shopbop for pregnant women. They make the most gorgeous dresses, and sale prices are reasonable. Catherine Middleton was spotted wearing Seraphine during both of her pregnancies, and those styles sold out quickly! I bought this wrap dress and wore it all the time. I also wore this sweater coat every single day (see photo at the top). I always felt beautiful and put-together when I wore Seraphine.

I also love Ingrid & Isabel, but they don't have sales often. Gilt has the best prices when they have a flash sale; look in the kids' section for maternity and nursing clothing. Like Seraphine, Ingrid & Isabel makes beautiful, stylish dresses. I especially love their maternity workout pants, which you can wear even when you're not pregnant (just fold down the belly panel, which holds in your mommy tummy). Maternity workout pants are unbelievably hard to find, and I highly recommend Ingrid & Isabel's.

Maternity (non-workout) pants are tricky. I preferred pants with two triangular stretch panels at the hips instead of pants with belly panels. My favorite jeans were J Brand, which I bought on sale from a boutique that has since closed, but Amazon has a few styles. My favorite work pants were the J.Crew maternity Minnie pant (see above photo). In J Brand, J.Crew, and Gap, I had to size down in all maternity pants.

I wore Gap's maternity basics constantly. I especially loved their tank top, tights, and panties. Word to the wise: Buy maternity panties so that you don't stretch out your nice ones. I didn't want to splurge on leggings and workout tank tops, so I bought them from Old Navy and was happy. Old Navy and Gap both have sales and discount codes frequently, so wait for a promotion and don't pay full price.

Finally, Hatch is the holy grail of maternity clothing. Expecting celebrities are spotted wearing Hatch all the time. I splurged on a few things on clearance on Gilt, which were still way over budget, but I justified the cost by factoring cost-per-wear. I wore my red shirt dress every week and felt beautiful and glowing in my dinner party dress at a ball:

What did you love wearing during your pregnancy? I'd love to hear!

The Best Games for Game Night

One of our favorite things to do at home is game night, even if it's just me and Juan. We don't go out much to stay on budget, and board games are a great way to have fun without spending way more than we planned on food and drinks (not to mention a babysitter). Here are my favorite board games that don't require a lot of familiarity, expertise, or sobriety to have fun.

My all-time favorite game is Ticket to Ride. There are lots of different versions (Europe, North America, Asia, the UK, Nordic countries, Germany, India...), so take your pick! We like Europe, whereas my friends in Germany like North America (of course). It's such a thrill to finish your train routes, or to build the longest track in the game. It only takes a couple of games to feel like you've got the hang of it.

Carcasonne is a really great game for guests who've never played any of your games. It's super easy to learn, and it's even easy to play while carrying on a conversation. Juan teases me that I always ask to play this game, but I do because sipping your drink won't put you at a disadvantage. ;) You don't have to pay super close attention to the other players' moves. It's all-around enjoyable and non-competitive.

Ligretto: don't be scared, it includes directions in English (and just about every other European language). This is a fast-paced card game that is easy to learn and surprisingly addictive. The game is usually over in just a few minutes, so you just play as many rounds as you'd like. Each box accommodates up to four players. You can buy the set in more than one color (red, green, or blue) to accommodate up to 12 players, and games with more players end even more quickly.

What are your favorite games, and what do you like about them? I'd love to hear!

P.S. Don't forget a card shuffler (this one, or a smaller option). They are loud and will startle your babies and pets, so be careful. Now you know how dorky we really are. :)

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Date Night at Home

In the fall of 2014, we started a tradition: A weekly date night at home. It started out of necessity for our budget and quickly became something we look forward to every Saturday night.

I chose the recipe for the perfect pasta with creamy mushroom sauce before our very first at-home date night because it was simple, fairly inexpensive, and a meal we'd still crave week after week. That's right, we make the same meal every time, which keeps it low-stress. (Pro tip: Double everything and have more leftovers to make the rest of your weekend easier.) My husband, Juan, is always the cook for this meal, which somehow makes it extra special for both of us. He even likes to tell me to get out of "his" kitchen. :) While he cooks, I set the table properly with cloth napkins, candles, and a decent-yet-cheap bottle of red wine. Juan turns on our dinner party playlist at the last minute because I always forget. The music is key - it sets the mood for us to relax longer at the table and helps us remember what life was like pre-baby, with long, leisurely dinners and drinks. (Think: David Bowie, Peter Björn and John, Elliott Smith, Cut/Copy, Simon & Garfunkel.)

Luisa, our baby, does eat with us, but we make an effort to talk to each other - really talk. Once Juan even pulled up a list of 36 questions to fall in love, which is intended for new couples, but helped steer us away from all the mundane things that take over married conversations so easily. Now that Luisa is older (gulp, 21 months), we might start having our date night dinner after she goes to bed to maintain the date-night vibes.

I highly recommend starting your own date night tradition. It's such a nice way to reconnect after a crazy week. (Isn't it always a crazy week? :)

(Photo via Refinery29)

Running as Free Exercise

Exercise is something near to my heart. I started exercising for the first time in 2008 after a bad breakup and graduating college at the same time and quickly became addicted. I had opened the door to a completely different state of being. Suddenly my anxiety was manageable, and breathing quite literally felt good.

Back then, my family had a gym membership and I went four or five days per week. I loved my elliptical machine and all the classes, especially weights and spinning. I still love spinning, in fact, and have a spinning bike at home that I especially love to use when it's either too hot (not a problem in Michigan) or too icy outside (potentially a problem here).

Then I started grad school and didn't have the time or money to go to a gym. So, for the first time in my life, I tried to run because it was free and I could start from my front door. I quickly learned that you can "run" 7-8 miles in an hour on the elliptical machine with resistance or do hour-long spin classes and be in the best cardio shape of your life, yet can't run a mile straight without walking just a little. And walk-run I did for several years, even through my pregnancy.

...Until I moved to Ann Arbor and joined a running group through Hike it Baby. (Isn't it nice that major life changes, such as graduating college or moving to a new city, are catalysts for other changes?) I joined the group halfway through Couch to 5k training for the Ann Arbor Turkey Trot. C25K works. Now I can finally run not just one, but three miles straight without walking. Even better, I've made my best friends in Ann Arbor through my running group. Before, I couldn't run without my iPod. Now I can't run without my friends!

My husband will say that I need to do more weights, and he's right. Besides the obvious - osteoporosis prevention and raising your metabolism - having more muscle improves your cardio performance and makes it feel even better (spoken like a true cardio high-addict). More on that another time.

If you'd like to share your tips for running or favorite parks for running, I'd love to hear!

(Photo of me and one of my dogs running in Korea three years ago)

Perfect Christmas Gifts

It's one week until Christmas Eve. Has anyone else suddenly realized that they have to find a few more gifts right now? Here are a few lovely little gifts for your neighbors, kids' teachers, party hosts, and anyone else you might not have planned for months in advance. Best of all, they're budget-friendly.

Frasier fir bar soap, $10.50, to make their bathroom smell amazing.

Rose lip balm for your girlfriends, $7.29.

Indulgent dark chocolate with orange and almond, $25.65 for a pack of 12.

The most luxurious hand cream, $12.

A hunk of stinky cheese from the grocery store. At least, this is what I really want.

The best chocolate chip cookies ever, for the cost of whichever ingredients you don't already have.

Do you have a go-to gift that's inexpensive? I'd love to read in the comments. Don't forget to join my Facebook group for all the best holiday deals!

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What to Cook When You're Broke

The holidays can leave you feeling, well, broke. Even with careful budgeting, most people end up pinching pennies before New Year's Eve comes around. To get you through the end of the month, I've rounded up some great, filling recipes for when you're just flat broke.

Spaghetti and eggs. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it. We eat this when we're out of groceries, hungover (it's magic), or just because we're craving it.

Frittata. You can put absolutely anything you have leftover in it.

Shakshuka, especially great when you're already carbed out.

A giant pot of vegetarian chili that will last you all week.

Lentil soup: Red lentils, or any kind of lentils.

My favorite winter stew, four years running. You can use frozen cauliflower and spinach and it'll still be delicious.

No recipe needed: Grown-up grilled cheese (with dijon mustard or sun-dried tomato pesto) and a side of sauteed spinach.

And if you're really desperate, a giant Costco pizza is only $10. :)

What are your go-to recipes when your fridge is nearly empty? I'd love to hear!

P.S. My favorite cookbook and don't forget today's the last day to sign up for the Tantre Farm Solstice Share.

(Image of us in our old dining room by Stephanie Bruce)